The race is on for one of the Premier League’s most sought-after free agents, and Liverpool have officially thrown their hat in the ring. As Virgil van Dijk approaches his 35th birthday and enters the final stretch of his contract—set to expire in summer 2027—the club is already planning for life after their defensive colossus. With his £400,000-per-week deal unlikely to be renewed by sporting director Richard Hughes, the search for a long-term successor has begun in earnest.
Enter Marcos Senesi, the 28-year-old Argentine centre-back who knows both Liverpool’s manager and sporting director intimately. Senesi flourished under Arne Slot at Feyenoord before making the switch to Bournemouth in 2022, where he worked under Hughes during his time at the Cherries. That existing relationship gives Liverpool a distinct advantage in what is quickly becoming a crowded transfer battle.
After Bournemouth sold Dean Huijsen and Iliya Zabarnyi last summer, Senesi stepped back into the spotlight and re-established himself as one of the best centre-backs outside the Premier League’s elite. Now, with his contract winding down to its final weeks, he is about to become one of the hottest free agents on the market—and clubs across England and Italy have been circling.
A recent report from Marca has confirmed what many suspected: Liverpool are now in the race. And for FSG, this could be a very sensible piece of business. Senesi is an aggressive, left-footed defender who thrives on proactive defending and progressive passing. He came through the ranks at San Lorenzo, honed his craft at Feyenoord, and has since racked up well over 100 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth.
Primarily deployed as a left centre-back, Senesi excels at stepping out of the defensive line to close down space, using his anticipation, pace, and timing to win duels early. While there is some exposure if the press is broken, his comfort on the ball—carrying it confidently into midfield—makes him one of the league’s most active and modern defenders. For a Liverpool side that builds from the back, he could be the perfect fit.